Houston Mayor John Whitmire just officially backed bringing the NHL’s 33rd franchise to Houston, and he’s not holding anything back. Seriously, this isn’t some quiet talk behind closed doors; the League announced back in June that Commissioner Gary Bettman and The Friedkin Group are knee-deep in a six-month evaluation to figure out if Houston or Austin, Texas, gets the nod. Remember how hyped we were when Seattle got approved as the 32nd franchise in 2018? Now, it’s Texas’s turn for another team, joining the Dallas Stars who moved there for the 1993-94 season.
Whitmire’s No-Holds-Barred Pitch
Mayor Whitmire told an exclusive interview that his office is all-in on discussions with everyone involved in this NHL expansion push. He didn’t just say they’re interested, either. “We’re ready. In fact, we’re talking to multiple parties that are interested … So when we get a proposal, if the city can do something to a system, we’ll be there. We’ll definitely be a better location than Austin,” Whitmire declared. Yeah, he went there! He’s convinced the NHL would never regret picking Houston, claiming the city has a proven track record of helping its sports teams absolutely crush it. “Austin is a great city, but it’s not Houston … If you talk to the sports franchises in town, I think they’d tell you we’re great partners.” That’s a pretty bold statement, isn’t it?
Houston’s Got The Numbers, Period.
It’s not just Mayor Whitmire’s confidence talking, either. Houston brings some serious firepower when you look at the facts. They’re the No. 6 media market in the country! Austin? A distant No. 32. And let’s talk about population. The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Texas Metro Area clocks in at a whopping 7,796,182 people. Compare that to the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas Metro Area with only 2,550,637. That’s a massive difference, and you know the NHL is looking at those numbers. Both Texas cities will need a brand-new arena, which is a huge part of the puzzle.
So, what’s the timeline on this whole thing? The six-month evaluation is slated to wrap up in December. The Friedkin Family, led by Dan Friedkin, is ready to throw down a massive $3.5 billion investment, which covers the expansion fee for the NHL and the cost of building that new arena. Houston already boasts six major pro sports franchises across NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, and NWSL, with the WNBA joining the party in 2027. Mayor Whitmire summed it up perfectly: “We’ve got successful sports teams and venues right here. We love Austin, but they’re not Houston.” Get ready, folks, because the NHL’s 33rd team decision is coming soon, and it’s gonna be wild to see who gets it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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